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Garlic Butter Chicken Penne with Creamy Three-Cheese Sauce

A decadent pasta dish featuring tender chicken and penne tossed in a rich, homemade garlic butter sauce with cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Fusion, Italian-American
Calories: 850
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta & Chicken
  • 1 lb penne pasta dry
  • 1.5 lbs chicken breast cubed
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
Creamy Three-Cheese Sauce
  • 3 tbsp butter unsalted
  • 5 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese freshly grated
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese freshly grated
  • 0.5 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt to taste
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground

Equipment

  • Large Skillet or Saucepan
  • Large pot for boiling water
  • Colander
  • Cheese grater

Method
 

  1. Boil penne pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup pasta water, then drain.
  2. Heat 1 tbsp butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  3. Season chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sear for 5-7 minutes until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken.
  4. In the same pan, melt remaining 3 tbsp butter over medium heat and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute.
  5. Deglaze with chicken broth, then stir in heavy cream and onion powder. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes.
  6. Reduce heat to low. Gradually whisk in cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan until melted and smooth.
  7. Add cooked chicken and pasta back to the skillet. Toss to coat, adding pasta water if needed to thin sauce.
  8. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Shred your own cheese for the smoothest sauce texture. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that can make the sauce grainy.